SoftBank-led consortium to demo bidirectional optical LEO-to-HAPS links

A Japanese consortium led by SoftBank, with ArkEdge Space, Kiyohara Optics and NICT, will demonstrate bidirectional optical communications between LEO smallsats and high‑altitude platforms in the stratosphere. The tests aim to validate high‑bandwidth, low‑latency laser links to bridge satellite and HAPS networks.

Discovered 2025-10-15T22:34:44.589568-07:00 | 2025-10-15T22:34:44.589568-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The demos validate high‑bandwidth, low‑latency laser links that address a core technical need for multi‑layer connectivity between satellites and high‑altitude platforms; they sit alongside work on optical ground infrastructure such as the University of Western Australia optical ground station network.
Bidirectional LEO‑to‑HAPS optical links are a key element in industry efforts to extend non‑terrestrial network services (5G/6G and direct‑to‑device); related demonstrations include the Tyvak/ESA 5G NTN demo mission and recent commercial moves into space‑based connectivity such as the Verizon–AST SpaceMobile agreement.
Progress on space↔stratosphere optical links expands options for high‑capacity data transport in commercial and government architectures already testing LEO‑based services, as seen in recent LEO‑to‑device and multi‑orbit terminal work (for example, Sateliot's NB‑IoT LEO connection).

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